Air rifle recoil simulator



May 17, 1955 w. A. TRATSCH AIR RIFLE RECOIL SIMULATOR Filed Oct. 24. 1950 dire States Patent 2,7ss,s19

AER RIFLE RECGIL SIMULATDR Walter A. Tratsch, Chicago, Ill, assignor to Clarence E. Threedy, Chicago, 111., as trustee Application October 24, 1950, Serial No. 191,766

2 Claims. or. 35-25 This invention relates to certain novel improvements in air rifles recoil simulator used in connection with shooting galleries for target practice purposes. More particularly the invention has for its object the provision of a simple arrangement for simulating the back kick of the rifle butt against the shoulder of the user when the rifle is fired. By such an arrangement the realistic feel of the rifle is greatly enhanced.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an rifle having incorporated therein my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the kick-back simulating mechanism embodying my invention and showing the parts thereof in exploded relation; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the but of the rifle showing the mechanism of Fig. 2 arranged therein.

The present invention may be incorporated as a part of the mechanism of the air rifles shown and disclosed in my prior patents, Nos. 2,304,320 and 2,466,513, or it may be used with any conventional type of air rifle.

in this connection, the conventional air rifle comprises a barrel 16) to and through which the shots are projected under air pressure. This barrel is attached in a conventional manner to the butt 11 having a shoulder plate secured to the shoulder-engaging end thereof by suitable screws or the like.

Diagrammatically l have illustrated as associated with this butt 11 a tube 13 through which compressed air is admitted to the firing tube 14, the air to such tube 3-5 being controlled in a manner shown in any one of my aforesaid prior patents which may include an electromagnetically actuated valve 15 controlled by a trigger 16. The air from the tube 13 passes through a passage 17 into the firing tube 14.

in one end of the butt 11, I provide an elongated bore 1? extending longitudinally in the direction of the butt 11. This bore 18 communicates with a bore 19 of substantially smaller diameter and leading to the firing tube 14.

The end 2 3 of the butt 11 provides a recess 21 in which is mounted a plate 22 and attached to the butt 11 by screws 23. Secured to this plate 22, which plate is concealed beneath the shoulder plate 12, is a plug 24. This plug 24 is attached to the plate 22 by a bolt 25. The plug 24 frictionally projects into one end of a cylinder 26 arranged in the bore 13.

Arranged in the cylinder 26 is a piston 27. Between the piston 27 and the plug 24 is arranged an expansion spring 28 of the coil type. This expansion spring 28 is relatively light and has sufiicient resiliency to maintain the piston 27 in its retracted position shown in Fig. 3.

Arranged in the opposite end of the cylinder 26 is a plug 29 having a passage 39 formed therein. As a part of this plug 29 is a nipple 31 which communicates with the Patented May 17, 1955 passage 36. Arranged in the bore 19 is a tube 32 having one end portion 33 fitting over the nipple 31. The opposite end portion 34 of the tube 32 communicates with the firing tube 14.

In the cylinder 26 is formed an outlet port 35 which communicates with an outlet passage 35 formed in the butt 11 for the purposes of allowing escape of air from the cylinder 26.

Whenever the trigger is manipulated to open communication with the firing tube 14 and the compressed air supply tube 13, a blast of compressed air will be admitted into the tube 32 through the passage 39 against the piston 27 to compress the spring 28 to impinge the piston against the compressed spring to transmit an impingement against the shoulder of the user to simulate back kicking of the rifle when fired.

By this arrangement the realistic feeling of the rifle is greatly enhanced.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A target practicing rifle of the compressed air type comprising an elongated cylinder adapted to be arranged in the butt of a rifle in a longitudinal direction with respect thereto, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, a plug having a passage formed therein frictionally carried at one end of said cylinder and normally in facial abutment with said piston, a spring arranged in said cylinder between said piston and an opposite end wall of the cylinder and normally expanded to retain said piston in facial abutment with said plug, an air supply tube for delivering a blast of compressed air into said cylinder against said piston to compress the spring within the cylinder and impinge the piston thereagainst to transmit a simulated back kick of the rifle against the shoulder of the user when fired, said plug having a hollow nipple insertable in said tube to provide communication between said tube and said passage of said plug for the passing of compressed air therethrough.

2. A target practicing rifle of the compressed air type comprising an elongated cylinder adapted to be arranged in the butt of a rifle in a longitudinal direction with respect thereto, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder, a plug having a passage formed therein frictionally carried at one end of said cylinder and normally in facial abutment with said piston, a spring arranged in said cylinder between said piston and an opposite end wall of the cylinder and normally expanded to retain said piston in facial abutment with said plug, means for admitting compressed air into said rifle to fire a shot therethrough and to simultaneously compress the spring and impinging the piston thereagainst to transmit a simulated back-kick of the rifle against the shoulder of the user when fired, and an air outlet located at said end wall of said cylinder to permit the escape of said compressed air when said piston is impinged against said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,023,497 Trammell Dec. 10, 1935 2,277,467 Wadle Mar. 24, 1942 2,304,841 Mikkelsen Dec. 15, 1942 2,398,813 Swisher Apr. 23, 1946 2,520,231 Heide Aug. 29, 1950 

